04-21-2021, 04:27 AM
(04-21-2021, 01:02 AM)Baggers link Wrote:Believe me, Pauly, I also do not like buzzwords - trite, shallow and lazy where meaningful, substantial and strong change is required. But then I deal with people and life at a deeper level than motivation seminars as the cure all - and that's where I find Robbins dangerous, thinking that 'positive thinking' will magically cure certain mental health issues. An expensive week or w/e of ra ra for everyday folks is fine, as long as you don't expect lasting benefits - maybe 1% will get a lasting benefit but the rest were just entertained by a charismatic, well-meaning performer for an exorbitant price.
That's why when I work with folks and if a 'buzzword' is used, we then flesh it out, give it substance and what it means to the client, not me, and how it will impact their lives for the better and what it will take to implement such a change, and very importantly, how to manage the problems inevitably caused by and associated with the change.
And if I could segway this into our club... buzzwords... We've belched buzzwords and cliches for two decades now. As I've said previously, we talk the talk, but fail to walk the talk. And that's about powerful leadership... our void. When you have a leadership void, well, you get what we've got.
No, we do not need to level the place and start again. But we do need to be honest with ourselves that strong, ruthless leadership is required to enforce the 'buzzwords', to give them substance to create a Fluffy Ducks kind of culture that can be passed from generation to generation.
People who think that the Pussy Cats and Tiggers and Dawks turned around their fortunes with a buzzword, or persisting with what was failing -- because success would be inevitable -- are kidding themselves. The things that went on behind the scenes at those 3 clubs were really quite honest and brutal. Didn't need to change an enormous amount in terms of personnel (on and off the field), just a ruthless, systematic and honest analysis of the failure attitudes and how to destroy them and then do what was necessary to institute change. And it started with Presidents/Boards and their thorough honesty and boldness and vision to force change. Our opponents this Saturday did it a few years back, around the same time as us, and look at their culture now!
We certainly seem captive to past decisions made by the club commencing early this century.
I am referring to the dreadful mistakes made at the draft table each year. The Board, even now, seems incapable of understanding that success depends so much on the player list.
In its mistaken belief that the problem lies elsewhere it has ruined the careers of experienced and relatively inexperienced coaches. I fear that Teague may be next.
If any of the clubs mentioned - Richmond, Geelong - had shown the same drafting incompetency as we have I'm sure they would be in the same position we are in now.
It is only a few years ago since we were so grateful for SOS getting us the GWS castoffs, and we are still left with a poor list.
As Prof E said in another thread, we have real problems on every line. I think the pain will be with us for some time.